S&W, the accountancy firm spun out of Smith & Williamson in 2023, is rapidly expanding its Manchester operation as the city’s economy continues to grow at pace.
The Manchester office has grown from 45 employees when Gary Fenemore-Schenk joined as tax director to nearly 100 today. The team relocated to Bruntwood SciTech’s modern Pall Mall building in Pollen Square, with Fenemore-Schenk noting they may need to restructure their space soon to accommodate further hiring.
Rapid Expansion in the North
“The North, and Manchester in particular, is seen as a real target for the business,” Fenemore-Schenk said. “Everyone within S&W recognises that the growth of Manchester’s economy and ecosystem is outstripping everywhere across the UK.”
The firm aims to bring a “personal touch” to professional services across Manchester, Leeds, and Newcastle, building on established operations in Birmingham, Bristol, and London. Fenemore-Schenk, who previously spent a decade at Mazars before joining Alvarez & Marsal, emphasized that growth is not pursued for its own sake.
“We want to build the scale and range of expertise necessary to be the leading advisers to mid-market businesses across the North,” he said. “At the moment, we have what I would call local relationships with a mix of local and national depth. Long-term, I want to be able to say we’ve got local relationships and local depth full stop.”
Building Local Capability
“We ultimately want our Manchester office to have all of the capabilities that our offices in London or Birmingham, for example, possess,” Fenemore-Schenk said. “As we continue to build out these capabilities, we will continue to embed ourselves further into the Manchester ecosystem.”
Manchester’s status as a major business hub has been reinforced by its role as home to Number 10 North, following Andy Burnham’s rise to Prime Minister. The city’s digital and tech cluster continues to attract investment, creating demand for specialized advisory services.
Fenemore-Schenk, who has been in Manchester for 15 years, noted that businesses in the region value long-term commitment. “When you meet business leaders and owners, they want to know that you’re here for the long term and for the right reasons,” he said.
